Flooding update: Weather Service expects manageable snowmelt

May 25, 2011

The Morning News—Melanie Moore
Community members in Thomas rallied together Tuesday to help fill sandbags and place sandbags around houses near the Snake River to protect the homes from potential flooding. Tuesday night volunteers were sandbagging a home that had the majority of the driveway and front yard flooded from the river.

MORNING NEWS
BLACKFOOT — The National Weather Service continues to issue flood warnings for the Snake River in Blackfoot and Shelley.
A spring-like weather pattern is expected to bring intervals of showers and fluctuating temperatures to the region throughout the week and is expected to melt snowpack in an manageable fashion, according to the National Weather Service.
The Snake River at Blackfoot is forecast to rise at least another six inches over the next four days, cresting at 11.54 feet by Saturday evening. On Tuesday night, the river was 10.9 feet. Flood stage is 10 feet.
In Shelley, the Snake River passed 12 feet Tuesday night and is forecast to rise to 13 feet by 5 p.m. Saturday. Flood stage is 12 feet, with major flooding at 12.5 feet. At 12.9 feet, major flooding in Shelley and Firth is likely.